Ceri Jones thought she had an abscess — No- She had a rare flesh-eating cancer

The 21-year-old had a lump in her mouth she thought was an abscess, so went to the dentist for a check up. It was only then the pub chef from Wales was horrified to lean her problem was in fact a serious, very rare, form of flesh-eating cancer.

The dentist did X-rays and told her there was nothing there so sent her to hospital for more tests. She then got the devastating diagnosis.

“It was November last year when I was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and was referred to Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

“I’d never heard of anything like it, I was so shocked that I actually had it to be honest,” The Mirror reported.

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma affects the salivary glands of the head and neck. She needed 36 hours on the operating table to remove the tumour. But she also lost her left eye.

But that wasn’t all.

The cancer was at an advanced stage after it had spread so her upper left jaw and upper left facial bones were also replaced with titanium metal and her face needed to be reconstructed.

She also lost her teeth on the left side as she had to have the muscle and skin on her right thigh grafted into her mouth.

“I was under sedation for two weeks while they did it and took skin and muscle from my right thigh to replace the left and side palate in my mouth, and they had to connect major arteries to blood vessels in my neck so the palate would keep alive.”

The British health system has paid for her to fly to Florida, in the United States, to undergo specialist radiotherapy for the next few months.

But she has to meet her own costs to cover day-to-day living and other expenses, so her family have launched a GoFundMe page has been set up to help with hopes to raise almost $10,000.

Her mum Sarah Evans said: “I relive this nightmare every day from the day we took Ceri to Liverpool to the day she came home and the morning she went down to theatre for the longest life-changing surgery and the complications she had thereafter.”

She said she was proud of the “bravery and strength” her daughter had shown.

A BLIND man has had his eyesight completely restored by Sydney surgeons — who sewed his tooth into his eyeball.

The risky but remarkable procedure involved planting a tiny lens inside the tooth, which now reflects light onto the back of the eye.

By using the patient’s own tooth, it ensures the body doesn’t reject it.

The operation, known as osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis, was recently performed twice at Sydney Eye Hospital, with one of the procedures being carried out on 72-year-old Goulburn man John Ings.

Mr Ings, whose procedure will feature on Channel 9’s 60 Minutes tonight, had progressively lost his sight as a result of the herpes virus. His vision has now been restored by the breakthrough operation.

The second patient, 50-year-old Cairns woman Leonie Garrett, has also had her sight improved, from barely being able to see the difference between light and dark to now having 20/20 vision.

The operation, which treats corneal blindness, is the only one of its kind being performed in the southern hemisphere.

It was carried out by two former classmates of the University of NSW, oral and maxillofacial specialist Dr Shannon Webber and oculoplastic surgeon Dr Greg Moloney.

How the procedure works.

The pair trained extensively in Germany to learn the procedure, which has been performed there on a handful of occasions since it was first tried in 2004. A German specialist came to Australia to supervise the two operations.

The procedure is broken down into two stages. First the patient’s tooth is extracted, a hole is drilled through it and a small plastic lens is placed inside.

It is then sewn into the patient’s cheek, where it grows tissue over a period of several months.

“We rely on the tooth to gain its own blood and tissue supply so when it is removed from the mouth, what you have essentially is a living complex,” Dr Webber said.

The groundbreaking operation is performed by Sydney surgeons.

Picture: 60 Minutes

John Ings after the successful operation. Picture: 60 Minutes

A flap of skin and mucus membrane from inside the mouth is then sewn over the eyeball.

Three months later, the tooth lens is removed from the cheek and sewn over the patient’s blind eyeball, then covered with the flap of skin. An opening is made to allow the new lens to see out.

It projects light onto the patient’s macular, in the back of the eye, much as happens with the lens of a healthy cornea.

The tooth which helped restore Mr Ings’ sight. Picture: 60 Minutes

Both Dr Maloney and Dr Webber now expect to operate two or three times a year in Australia through the public health system at Sydney Eye Hospital.

“It’s pretty incredible and something we have been building towards for several years,” Dr Webber said.

“So to have done it successfully on two occasions is extremely satisfying. Both patients are doing really well and Leonie, in particular, is an amazing case because she had virtually no ability to see at all.

“We anticipate doing two to three of these surgeries a year and it will really come down to a supply and demand thing.”

Each patient would be assessed by Sydney Eye Hospital.

For Mr Ings, the successful surgery now means he is able to watch his own procedure on television tonight — something that would not have been possible six months ago.

“Before the operation I wouldn’t have been able to watch anything,” he said yesterday.

Florida resident Naidelys Montoya is one of those taking advantage of the process.

The Hialeah woman didn’t wait for her son’s baby teeth to fall out but took the boy to an oral surgeon to have two of the loose ones extracted for their stem cells in case her son Raul Estrada, 6, might need them for a future illness, she says.

“I believe in this,” Montoya said. “I did as a precaution against things that could happen in the future.”

Many question the procedure.

It’s expensive, costing $590 upfront and $100 a year to store stem cells from up to four teeth for up to 20 years.

And it’s speculative, with the first FDA-approved practical use of such stem cells likely years away.

Still, supporters are confident in the worth of the process.

“I can’t help but feel excitement for their potential use in regenerating different tissues in the human body,” Dr. Jeremy Mao, director of the Regenerative Medicine Laboratory at Columbia University, said.

Mao also is chief science adviser to StemSave, a New York City company that freezes the stem cells and stores them for later use, the Herald reported.

The American Dental Association, while cautiously optimistic about the potential of dental stem cells, urges parents to consider both the cost and the rarity of use.

“That’s the question people have to ask themselves,” said Dr. Jeffrey Blum, the Miami Beach oral surgeon who pulled Raul Estrada’s teeth.

“Am I saving this for no reason? Is it worth what I’m paying? Essentially it’s an insurance policy.”

Gum problems can come with poor oral hygiene. The accumulation of saliva and food residues can promote the growth of bacteria and microorganisms in the gums, leading to the development of periodontal and gingival diseases.

Common Gum Disorders

Gingivitis is the most common gum disease where the inflammation causes the gums to swell, appear red, and tender.

The build-up of plaques in the teeth and in the gums results to infection and bleeding. Besides poor oral hygiene, the use of anabolic steroids can also cause the enlargement of the gums. Another common disorder is the recession of the gums from the tooth’s surface causing the exposure of the dental neck. This causes the teeth to become sensitive from external stimuli called root sensitivity. The slightest cold sensation, for example, can bring intense pain to the teeth and cause severe discomfort. Note that gum disease is the most common cause why adults in the United States lose their teeth.

Knowing Healthy Gums

Some people may think that as long as their gums are not bleeding or their teeth are still well intact, they have healthy gums. But knowing whether your gums are healthy or not, needs more than just superficial evidence and self-diagnosis. The first stages of gum disorder may be happening where your eyes can’t see it. It’s always best to consult your dentist regularly to check for any signs of unhealthy gums. In terms of color, healthy gums are coral pink. Blue, white or reddish gums, on the other hand, may signify inflammation. But the color of the gums can also vary depending on one’s race and may thus appear darker due to pigmentation. The better way of telling whether your gums are healthy is to check if the color is uniform rather than by looking at the general color alone.

Healthy gums also have that smooth appearance and holds tightly to each tooth. The appearance of the margins of an unhealthy gum will tend to look rolled and puffy. The texture of healthy gums is firm and resistant to mechanical movement like when brushing or by feeling it with your fingers. And they will also have no reaction to dental probing. The deposit of pus or purulent exudates in the gums is another indication of a disorder.

Factors that Increase Gum Disease Risk

Smoking is the biggest contributor to the development of gum and periodontal diseases. The toxins in tobacco can promote the growth of bacteria in the mouth and causes unhealthy discoloration. Smoking can also reduce the efficacy of treatment. People with diabetes have higher risk of developing gum diseases since they are more at risk of getting infected. Some medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter drugs, have the tendency of lowering the saliva flow in the mouth which in effect reduces the mouth’s natural capacity to kill bacteria that causes gum infection.

There are many natural ways of keeping the gums in tiptop shape. Avoiding bad habits like smoking and eating the right kind of foods can greatly reduce the risk of developing gum disorders. A study published in the Journal of American Dietetic Association, for example, showed that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the likelihood of getting struck with periodontal disease.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids against Gum Diseases

According to a new study conducted by a team of researchers from Harvard Medical School, and was led by Dr Asghar Naqvi, omega-3 fatty acids can inversely affect the risk of getting periodontitis. The researchers found that the supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids DHA and EPA decreased the prevalence of the gum disease in Americans by 20 percent. Naqvi said, in reference to the study, that the treatment of periodontitis has been limited to the use of local antibiotic and mechanical cleaning. He adds that the study strongly suggests the use of dietary therapy to fight the disease; it’s a less expensive and safer way of treating and preventing the disease. He also suggested the supplementation of DHA according to the recommended dosage of the American Heart Association to influence the onset of the periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a common gum disorder in adults which is associated with the chronic inflammation and the separation of the gums from the teeth. This leads to the formation of periodontal pockets where harmful microorganisms can accumulate and lead to teeth and even bone loss. The usual treatment of periodontitis initially consists of the removal of bacteria from the periodontal pockets to avoid further infection. But other methods of approaching the disease target the gum’s response to the infection instead of focusing on its cause.

A study published in the Molecular Oral Biology had reported the anti-bacterial properties of omega-3 fatty acids. This further expands the benefits of the compound from just being anti-inflammatory. The study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Kentucky found that the fatty acids known as acid ethyl esters in ALA, DHA and EPA can influence the growth of oral pathogens. This was thought to be the first to examine the antibacterial properties of omega-3 fatty acids.

The study led by Dr Naqvi was dedicated to discovering the anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3 in terms of reducing the risk of developing periodontitis. The team evaluated data from more than 9,000 adults who joined that National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004. They found that the consumption of foods containing DHA reduced the prevalence of periodontitis by around 20 percent.

Professor from Boston University, Elizabeth Krall Kaye, said that the study’s findings are well-founded and strongly suggestive of taking omega-3 supplementation as an effective means of fighting the condition. The researchers however, disclaimed, that their study only acquired associative evidence or information on the habits that reduces the risk of developing the disease. It does not indicate that the lack of omega-3 in diet causes the disease.

Eat Your Way towards Healthy Gums

Having healthy gums may mean doing something as simple as practicing good oral hygiene, and making the choice to eat healthy foods. Here are some ways to promote healthy gums:

Eating celery can protect the teeth and gums by producing more saliva that protects the mouth from bacterial infection and by naturally cleaning the areas in-between the teeth and by massaging the gums.

The high calcium content of cheese and its low carbohydrate content balance the mouths pH level and supplies the teeth and gums with their much needed nutrient.

Other foods that promote gum health are green tea, kiwis, onions, parsley, and sesame seeds primarily due to their antibacterial properties.

Drinking a lot of water also flushes away bacteria and food residue from the mouth.

LONDON (UPI) — Brushing your teeth twice a day can lower your risk of heart disease, British researchers said.

The researchers studied the brushing habits and medical histories of more than 11,000 adults and found that people who brush less than twice a day were 70 percent more likely to develop heart disease.

Inflammation in the body, mouth and gums included, plays a key role in the buildup of clogged arteries, which can lead to heart attacks.
“If you don’t brush your teeth, your mouth can become infected with bacteria, which can cause inflammation,” Judy O’Sullivan, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation told the BBC in a story published Friday.

More studies are needed to determine the exact cause and effect between oral hygiene and heart disease, said Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association.